"It's an absolutely stunning beach but the unique thing is that you've got a major city within a five-minute drive.

"I don't think it happens like this anywhere else in New Zealand. A lot of the stunning beaches are so far in the middle of nowhere."

Realty Services chief executive Ross Stanaway said the two streets had seen a gradual upgrade as older dwellings were replaced by new homes.

"That kind of investment is made by home owners who understand the long-term value of that location. There are still some properties on both roads which were built some time ago and are on great sections and offer opportunities for people to redevelop and create some really stunning homes."

Real Estate Institute of New Zealand (REINZ) Tauranga spokesperson Dicky Burman said property prices were influenced by proximity to the ocean and the Mount's popularity as a holiday destination.

"You're looking at one of the prime holiday destinations in New Zealand. It has views and waterfront and just a fabulous position."

John O'Donnell, of O'Donnell Realty, said the uninterrupted sea views were the main drawcard for people wanting to buy on Marine Parade or Oceanbeach Road. The main difference between the streets was people living on Marine Parade had to walk across the road to get to the beach, whereas some houses on Oceanbeach Road were right on the beachfront, he said.

"I would rather be on Oceanbeach Road beachfront because you can walk out the door and get sand in your toes.

"The only advantage on Marine Parade, other than the views, is that if you were at the start of the street you could walk into town."

The two streets ranked highly on the list because they were both long streets with lots of houses on them, Mr O'Donnell said.

Marine Parade has 473 properties on the street, while Oceanbeach Road has 772.

Mr O'Donnell said a lot of the houses along Mount Maunganui's coastal strip were holiday homes for people who lived outside of the region.

"Some of these are rented out but there's an awful lot of properties that aren't rented out because the people don't need the money.

"Waikato people have always seen the Mount as a good place to invest because there has been a good history of capital gains."